God will do it!

“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” (1 Thes. 5:24 NIV)

I heard someone say that being a Christian is difficult, maybe even impossible, because you cannot live a righteous life in the corrupt world we are in. I thought about his statement for a moment and decided what he said was both yes and no, depending on how you look at it. It’s “yes” (difficult or impossible) if you’re trying to live a righteous life using your own strength (personal abilities). And it’s “no” (not difficult or impossible) if you allow God to produce His righteousness in your life. What’s impossible for us is possible for God.

What is righteousness?

The word righteousness means God’s approval or being considered right in his eyes. Think of it in this way: When God sees you he approves of you because you are a bearer of His righteousness, it not your own. You are justified in his sight by what He has done.

Being deemed righteous is defined as the state or condition of being morally upright, just, or virtuous. When people see you, they recognize your upright character and declare you to be a moral being. This righteousness is not in your own eyes.

It’s possible when God does it

Yes, it is possible to live the Christian life by God’s power at work in your life. And, of course, your obedience to His Word is a big part of it, we do have a part in it.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matt. 6:33 ESV)

“And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith” (Phil. 3:9 ESV)

 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21)

Therefore

 “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,” (Titus. 3:5 ESV)

“What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith;” (Rom. 9:30)